GAZ_12052014

Page 1

Your source for community news and sports 7 days a week.

CARDINALS Good times GETTING THE in the cards BALL ROLLING VISIT PROPHETS

AMERICAN PROFILE, INSIDE

GIRLS BOWLING PREVIEW, B1

GIRLS HOOPS, B1

dailyGAZETTE Friday, December 5, 2014

SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854

STERLING

Whiteside HomeCare nears end Health department program has served region since 1966 BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521

STERLING – After 48 years of serving the community, White-

side HomeCare will end its services next month. The Whiteside County Health Department started the service in 1966 when the region had no other options for home health care, said Beth Fiorini, administrator of the department. The decision to end the service was made by the County Board of Health in the fall.

The service averages around 38 to 40 patients a month, Fiorini said, but with the steady increase in home health care providers, the cost to continue the service finally outweighs the community’s need. “In the beginning, when there was no other option in the county, we basically got really big and flourished

through the ’80s,” Fiorini said. “And then hospitals started having home care, and competition started. “It’s hard for us to compete because we’re a government agency, and so we have certain government benefits we have to provide ... that make my staff a lot costlier than some other staff. We started losing

money, and so, since there was an adequate supply of home care, ... we decided it was time to close.” Short-term patients will still be taken on a case-by-case basis for the next month or so. The program won’t officially come to a close until Jan. 30. HOMECARE CONTINUED ON A3

ILLINOIS

SOUND PERFORMANCES KICK OFF FESTIVITIES IN STERLING

Quinn has few, tough options on wage hike Experts: Madigan’s return not likely

Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Members of the Messiah Lutheran Church choir perform during the Sights and Sounds Concert on Thursday night at First Congregational Church in Sterling. The event featured holiday songs performed by a variety of small groups, church ensembles and soloists. RIGHT: Alexis Johnson sings a solo during the Sights and Sounds Concert. FAR RIGHT: Riley Horton performs “Mary Did You Know?” on the piano Thursday night at the First Congregational Church. For upcoming events associated with Sights and Sounds, see A10.

TOP5 Your Weekend

1 ‘Tis the Seasonal Sights and Sounds STERLING – The annual Seasonal Sights and Sounds holiday events in Sterling are underway. The downtown Christmas Walk will be from 11 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, with the tree lighting scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Grandon Civic Center. Saturday also will include the annual Breakfast with Santa from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Moose facility, and a visit with Santa from 2 to 4 p.m. at Sterling Federal Bank. More events and activities are listed at saukvalleyareachamber.com and sterlingmainstreet.org.

$1.00

TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 255

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – A final piece of outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn’s legacy is up in the air as lawmakers left Springfield for the year without sending the Chicago Democrat legislation increasing Illinois’ minimum wage. After championing the issue through a grueling re-election bid, Quinn Pat Quinn is left with few Governor could tough options call special before Repub- session, forcing lican Gov.-elect lawmakers to Bruce Rauner focus on issue, takes office. He but at risk of can call a spe- them refusing to act. cial session, forcing lawmakers to focus on the issue, but at the risk of them refusing to act. Or he can try to persuade House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton to return, a skill Quinn hasn’t had much success with before. WAGE CONTINUED ON A4

2 Sauk takes the stage at Centennial

3 Christmas Walk in Dixon

4

More holiday festivities in Dixon

5 Christmas in the County in Tampico

STERLING – Sauk Valley Community College Theater Department will present “Meet Me In St. Louis” at Centennial Auditorium in Sterling High School. Performances will begin at 7 p.m. today and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for students. Tickets may be bought at the door, or by calling 815-6223248 between 3 and 6 p.m. today.

DIXON – The 26th annual Dixon Main Street Christmas Walk will be today from 5:30 to 9 p.m. It includes the Great Snowball Drop, featuring 3,000 “snowballs” that will be dropped, giving people a chance to win prizes, at 8 p.m. in front of Dixon Paint Co., 313 W. First St. The KSB Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin at 6 p.m., with Santa arriving for the official start of the Christmas Walk. Shops will be open, and horseand-wagon rides will be offered.

DIXON – The holiday events don’t end today in Dixon. They will continue Saturday, with a Breakfast with Santa from 8 to 11 a.m. at Post House Ballroom, 100 W. Second St. Kids can have breakfast and take pictures with Santa. Cost is $3 for adults and $1.50 for kids 9 and under. Then at 3 p.m., the Dixon Municipal Band will perform its Christmas Concert at Historic Dixon Theatre, 114 S. Galena Ave. Admission is a $5 donation.

TAMPICO – Christmas in the Country will begin when Santa arrives at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Tampico Historical Society Museum, 119 S. Main St. Kids can sign up Saturday for spots as prince and princess (for students in kindergarten through second grade) and for king and queen (for those in the third through fifth grades). If weather permits, hayrack rides will be offered to view Christmas lights.

INDEX

ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A13 COMICS ...............B7

CROSSWORD....B13 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2

OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2

Today’s weather High 39. Low 27. More on A3.

Need work? Check out your classifieds, B8.

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PAPER, CALL 815-625-3600 OR 800-798-4085


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.